Zara Sykes

Name Zara Sykes

Alias N/A

D.O.B. July 17 / Cancer

Age 26

Sex / Gender Female / Female

Orientation Heterosexual

Eye Color Light Gray

Hair Color Dark Purple / Silver/Grey Ombré

Height 5'9" (5'10" with boots)

Weight 129 lbs.

Likes

Sharp lines + silhouettes
Peanut butter & bananas (her favorite snack!)
White chocolate peppermint hot cocoa
Winter fashion
Crystals + gemstones (usually in the form of jewelry)
The smell of pine

Dislikes

Hospitals
Philosophy and theory (being Resurrected¹ made these topics uncomfortable)
Deep, open water (but is trying to overcome the thalassophobia)
Hooded sweatshirts/jackets
Howling/whistling wind

Introverted

Intuitive

Thinking

Judging

Turbulent

*MBTI results and explanations referenced from test results provided by 16personalities.com.

Friendly Reserved

Serious Immature

Brave Timid

Organized Messy

High-Strung Relaxed

Wise Ignorant

Independent Dependent

Optimistic Cynical

Polite Snarky

Cautious Impulsive

Sincere Deceptive

Diligent Lazy

Focused Scatter-brained

Emotional Dispassionate

Biography

Since Xaerians¹ are the embodiment of their element, Zara's skin and body temperature are cooler than average / can manipulate the heat in the space around her (which is how she keeps from overheating)

Zara has noticed that she has less of an appetite than the average person, which makes sense given her slightly lower body temperature than average

Power over her element is so fine-tuned that she can freeze moisture on an individual's skin; also has the ability (through calmed concentration) to freeze whatever she places her hands on
Fond of silvery/grey hairstyles; will ombré her hair every so often with colors other than her default hairstyle
Barbell nipple piercings
Youngest of two (Freya Sykes is her sister, who is five years older)
Extraverted, but calmly so — she's the friend/guest who's just happy to be there with you, but doesn't make a whole scene about it

Voiceclaim: Troian Bellisario

[ WIP/Draft ]

At the end of November in 2005, Zara and her sister Freya visited a local frozen lake to play and ice skate. Although the adults would always warn local children that the ice can thin in non-winter months, Freya — being a confident teenager — reassures Zara that the two of them will be fine. They go a few hours before sunset to enjoy the quiet and the view, but the two of them venture too far into the middle of the lake. As Zara begins to panic, she falls quite a few times, and Freya watches helplessly as she falls one time too many and winds up going through the ice. Freya tries to reach her sister, but can’t get close enough without risking cracking more ice or falling through herself. She screams at the top of her lungs as Zara begins to sink, and she runs for help—but at that point it’s too late. Zara’s body begins to shut down from the freezing water as Freya desperately seeks aid, and Zara drowns.

Regardless of the successful retrieval her body, the Sykes take a moment to mourn their youngest. Freya, overtaken with guilt, suggests bringing her sister’s body to the Xaerii² village so that she might be revived — or at least blessed. Her parents agree, and they wrap Zara’s frigid body in blankets as they transport her carefully. Having been moved by the family's plight, an incoming Xaerii villager ushers the family through the gates to the village. One of the Seers performs a Hol’locie Resurrection³ on her, but at the price of the Sykes’ daughter becoming the new vessel for the recently loosed Ice Xaerian. The Sykes agree, just wishing for their daughter to return, and Khokori is summoned to preside over the ritual. Successful in their endeavors, the Xaerii are able to resurrect the drowned child. Imbued with the essence of the Ice Xaerian, Zara almost perishes again from her lowered body temperature, but they’re able to keep her conscious and warm her up enough for her to survive. The Xaerii keep watch over Zara in the village over the next week as they monitor her, her family being given a temporary pass to enter the sacred land to visit their daughter. Once she’s able to function once more without necessary supervision, the Sykes offer volunteer time to repay the Xaerii for their miracle. The three are tasked with helping villagers, while Zara — moved by Khokori’s diligence and good nature — asks to help her specifically. Feeling for the youth after having been put into a similar situation early on in her own life, Khokori agrees on the condition that she help Zara commune with her Xaerian to keep it safe.

[Coming Soon!]

[ Cryomancy ]

The Ice Xaerian has given Zara the ability to manipulate heat energy in the space around her; this ability has become so fine-tuned from her communion with her Xaerian that she has the ability to freeze moisture on an individual's skin. She also has the ability, through calmed concentration, to freeze anything she places her hands on.

As a result of the cryomancy and Xaerian's presence within her, Zara's body temperature is cooler than average. She keeps from overheating by passively manipulating the heat energy that lies within a close perimeter to her body.

Although she has fine-tuned the abilities she possesses, Zara is still unable to command or manifest ice at will (as of yet).

[ Ice Shuriken ]

[ Unofficial / WIP ]
Zara's Xaerian has blessed her with a giant shuriken star made of below-zero crystallized ice. Given Zara's ability to manipulate the heat around her, the shuriken is more or less immune to melting; it never dulls, and its sub zero temperature makes the edges feel even sharper. Zara is the only one capable of wielding/touching this weapon, as she is the only one who is unaffected by the temperature of the ice.

[ Xaerian ]

Having been revived via The Resurrection, Zara became the next available host for the Ice Xaerian—and she became its new vessel.

Health

Attack

Defense

Accuracy

Stealth

Speed

Stamina

Luck

I... vividly remember drowning. The light growing further away; my consciousness fading. It's a terrible thing, death.

Affiliates

Freya Sykes

[ Older Sister ]

Freya Sykes is older than Zara by five years. After Zara's fatal accident at a local lake, Freya felt fully responsible for her sister's death. Desperate for her to come back, she suggests thata her family take her to the nearby Xaerii village to see if they can Resurrect her. The Xaerii are successful in Resurrecting Freya's sister, but she—even to this day—still feels responsible for Zara's death.

The two were close prior to Zara's death, but Freya never took a day with her sister for granted after she was resurrected. The two have remained very close over the years—they talk at least once every day or so over the phone.

Khokori Pax-Esheway

[ "Mentor" ]

Shortly after having froze and drowned, Zara was brought by her parents to the Xaerii village. Although Khokori herself did not perform the Resurrection ritual, she was there to supervise. After being revived, Zara inherited the Ice Xaerian. As someone who shared a similar history, Khokori felt for Zara's situation—and offered solace for the young bearer. Although the two never grew close "personally", Zara grew to admire Khokori — and Khokori grew to enjoy Zara's presence and aid. Zara's communion with her Xaerian was achievable solely by Khokori's guidance and teachings.